Former President Mahama has proposed radical policies and programs to vamp up the country’s Health system, following what he says is an eye opener from the Covid-19 pandemic.
While donating Personal Protection Equipments to frontline Health workers at the Korlebu Teaching Hospital, the former President suggested the building of another medical research institute in the class of the Noguchi memorial research institute in Accra, for the Northern sector.
He also proposes a National Infectious Disease Response Plan for the country.
“I propose the immediate development of a National Infectious Disease Response Plan that clearly sets out the specific steps to be taken to prevent the entry of such diseases, quickly arrest them even if they do enter our shores at a very early stage and reduce their impact to the barest minimum.
“We must establish another medical research centre with capacity like the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research in the Northern part of Ghana. We must expand the 37 military hospital, doubling the current bed size, and also build an Infectious Diseases Centre there to cater for the Southern sector to help with the management of cases like Ebola and COVID-19. A second and fully equipped National Infectious Diseases Centre should be built in the middle and Northern Sectors of the country.
“As part of our national strategic medical stock, we must have such items as PPEs and other vital logistics in place well in advance of any outbreak. The current shortage, which has led to a global scramble for these items show that it is only the early bird that will catch the worm. We must always be prepared and not be caught off-guard again in such a situation.
“A key plank to this strategy is to boost the capacity of our manufacturing firms to produce these items locally to reduce, if not eliminate our dependence on imports which can be unreliable in times like this.
“While we are it, I want to urge government to expand the testing centres to include the Navrongo and Kintampo Research Centres, ensuring that Noguchi or KCCR supports them to test more people and on time.”
The former President also mentioned special insurance for medical staff across the country.
The proposals, he said, are already part of the NDC’s manifesto which will be launched later in the year and that they are all policies and programs that his government will run if he is elected into office again in December.
Mr. Mahama made the overtures while making a donation to the Korle Bu and Tamale Teaching Hospitals through the Covid-19 team. A total of 500 PPEs together with 500 gum boots valued at 300,000 Ghana Cedis to the COVID-Team.
“In view of the situation in Korle Bu, in particular, and the threats from the health workers, in defence of their own protection, I have had to make some adjustments in the distribution formula, and we are currently looking around to secure an additional 150 PPEs, at a cost of 90,000 Ghana Cedis, to reach out to other facilities in the regions. That puts the total number of PPEs we will be handing over to 650 sets at a cost of 390,000 Ghana Cedis.”
Last Sunday, in response to the cries of health workers at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital (Ridge), the former President presented 100 PPEs together with other items and drinking water to them. It was our modest contribution to ensure that the health workers have the needed confidence to continue their sacrifice to safeguard the rest of us who are not victims to the virus, and also protect themselves.